PROPULSION -2

GEOMETRY
 Scope

• Propeller geometry
• Marine propeller construction
 Screw Propeller Geometry
TIP CIRCLE BLADE TIP
HUB
ROOT

SUCTION
BACK
PRESSURE
PROPELLER FACE
DISC

ROTATION Hubcap
Boss

TRAILING LEADING
EDGE EDGE
 Propeller Pitch

The distance that the blade travels in one revolution, P

pitch
diameter

Hub

Figure 7.8 - Fixed Pitch Propeller Operating at Zero Slip for One Revo lution
 Screw Propeller Geometry
Definitions
• Right hand screw :
- Rotates CW when viewed from astern.
• Left hand screw :
- Rotates CCW when viewed from astern.
- Single screw ships use this type.
• Pressure face :
- High pressure side of blade. The astern side when going ahead
• Suction side : Low pressure side. Surface opposite the face
• Number of Blades: 2, 3, 4, 5 ,6 Suction side (Back)

T.E. L.E.
Pressure side (Face)
Right Hand propeller torque forces a boat into a right
hand turn.
Right Hand propeller torque forces a boat into a right
hand turn.

How can we prevent this “walking” due to blade rotation?

Right Hand propeller torque forces a boat into a right
hand turn.

Counter Rotating Propeller : Torpedo, Submarine

Right Hand propeller torque forces a boat into a right
hand turn.

OR
Right Hand propeller torque forces a boat into a right
hand turn.

Naval Ship
Typhoon class submarine
 Propeller Pitch

The pitch angle relates the pitch length to

the circumference of the propeller blade:

tan f = P
2pr

… Pitch angle f is the angle that any part of the

blade makes perpendicular with the water flow
Pitch: P when the line AB makes one complete revolution
and arrives at A’B’. It traveled an axial distance AA’,
which represents the pitch of the surface. The propeller
blade is part of that surface and the pitch is also called the
pitch of the blade.

Pitch angle  tan  1  P  or tan   P

 2 r  2 r
P PR
Pitch ratio: PR  tan  
D 

o

2 r
• The face surface of a blade is a portion of a helicoidal surface

• The helicoidal surface: Considering a line AB perpendicular to

a line AA’ and supposing that AB rotates with uniform velocity
about AA’ and at the same time moves along AA’ with uniform
velocity, the surface swept out by AB is a helicoidal surface.
Expanded Area AE

Developed Area AD
• Rake (a blade is perpendicular or titled w.r.t the boss )

• Skew (the skewness of a blade w.r.t. the center line)

P
• Pitch ratio PR 
D
In case that the pitch, P, is not constant, then the pitch is de-
fined as P = Ptip (the pitch at the tip of a propeller).

• Blade area ratio = AD /A0

AD - Total (developed) blade area clear of that of the boss

A0  D 2 / 4
• Blade outline: it is decided by propeller series diagrams.

• “Expanded blade outline”

• Blade sections: they are radial sections through the blade.

The shape of these sections is then shaped when laid out flat.

•Blade thickness

•Blade width (Chord)

•Leading edge

•Trailing edge
 Propeller Drawing

• The design drawing for a propeller

usually consists of four parts
– a side elevation of the propeller
– an expanded blade outline with details of
the section shapes
– the pitch distribution if it is not uniform
– a transverse view
• The characteristics of propellers are cus-
tomarily expressed in the form of non-di-
mensional ratios
propeller pitch P
Pitch ratio PR  
propeller dia D
 2

4D
Disc Area 

Expanded area ratio  AE

A
0
Pitch ratio PR 
propeller pitch

P

exp anded area of all blades outside hub propeller dia D


2
Disc Area 
4 D
disc area Expanded area ratio  A
E

A
0

exp anded area of all blades outside hub


disc area

propeller pitch P
Pitch ratio PR  
propeller dia D propeller pitch P
Pitch ratio PR  
 2 propeller dia D
Disc Area 
4 D  2
Disc Area  D
Developed area ratio  A D
4
A
A 0
Expanded area ratio 
A
E

0
exp anded area of all blades outside hub developed area of all blades outside hub
 
disc area disc area
 Controllable Pitch Propellers
• Blades are separately mounted on the hub, each on axis,
and the pitch of the blades can be changed, and even re-
versed, while the propeller is running, by means of an in-
ternal mechanism in the hub.
• The chief advantages of this type of propeller are in ships
which have to meet very different operating conditions,
such as tugs and trawlers or in ships that have non-revers-
ing prime movers, usually naval ships powered by gas tur-
bines.
• By reducing the propeller pitch when towing or trawling, for
example, the engine can still run at its full revolutions, and
so develop full power without increasing the mean effec-
tive pressure in the cylinders, an important matter in diesel
engines.
 Controllable Pitch Propellers
• Ferries which have to stop start, and reverse repeatedly also
benefit by the fact that full astern power is available by revers-
ing the pitch while the engines continue to run in the same di-
rection.
• From the engine point of view, such propellers obviate the ne-
cessity of reversing mechanism in reciprocating engines and of
astern turbines in turbine powered ships, thus saving both
weight and cost, and making the reversing of thrust in an emer-
gency very much quicker.
• The only difference is the somewhat larger hub needed to
house the pitch-changing mechanism. When the pitch is
changed, all sections turn through the same angle, so that the
pitch face is no longer a true helical surface.
Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP)
Constructional Details of
Marine Propeller
 Construction
• The blades are either cast integral with the
hub or cast separately and bolted to it; the
two types are referred to as
– Solid
– Built up
• Built up propellers have the advantages:
– Damaged blades are easily replaced and
– Small adjustments in pitch can be made by turn-
ing the blades on the hub.
• Disadvantages of built-up propellers as
compared with solid propellers:
– Higher first cost,
– Greater weight and
– Somewhat smaller efficiencies because of
the larger hub.
 Rake
• Propeller blades are generally given
some rake aft, which increases the
clearance from the hull, bossings or
shaft brackets
• Generally beneficial to efficiency
• Reduces the periodic propeller forces
which induce hull vibration.
 Skew

• Periodic propeller forces are also re-

duced by using skewed blade outlines
• The leading edges of the blades enter
the wake concentrations behind the
hull and appendages more smoothly.
 The Skewed Propeller

Advantages: Disadvantages:
- Reduced interaction between propeller
- Expensive
and rudder wake - Less efficient operating in reverse
- Reduced vibration and noise

Highly Skewed Propellers on a Los Angeles class submarine and for a DDG 51
 Strength
• The choice of blade area and blade-out-
line shape having been made for a
given design, the thickness of the sec-
tions must be such as to provide ade-
quate strength.
 Materials

• Propeller materials need to be

– light in weight,
– have a smooth surface and
– have a high resistance to erosion.
• Those commonly used include cast
iron, cast steel, manganese bronze and
different varieties of manganese-nickel-
aluminum alloys.